My rebel player won the lightsaber on the first side mission and was ecstatic. I watched that turn to disappointment and then heartache as time and time again, the lightsaber had trouble killing regular stormtroopers of all things. (And on one particular incident, took four swings to kill one)

It's fickle. If you put that extended haft on there for reach it gives her positioning options, but the balanced hilt is what provides those reclusive surges to make it shine. I mean, why isn't it red + yellow or with automatic Pierce 3?

The formula used is simply damage*frequency. The basic surge dmg formula would be (dmg)*(surge chance)*(non surge cancel on black), tho it is much more complicated when pierce is involved.

Unmodified against a single target (using pierce over cleave)

The lightsaber: base dmg: 3.334; surge dmg 0.721; black die 1.5 = 2.555 expected damage

Vibro-ax: base dmg 3.5, surge dmg, surge dmg .972, black die 1.5 = 2.97

Plasteel Staff: base dmg 2.167, surge dmg 0.69, black die = 1.5 - 1.357

Unmodified against 2 adjacent targets (cleave over pierce - counting cleave as if it were 2 dmg)

Lightsaber: base:3.334, surge dmg: 1.22, black die 1.5 = 3.054

Vibro-Ax: base 3.5, surge dmg: 1.137, black die 1.5 = 3.137

Balanced Hilt against a single target (using pierce over cleave)

Lightsaber: Base: 3.334, surge dmg: 1.7, black die 1.5 = 3.634

Vibroax (with extended haft): 2.97*.833 = 3.803

Plasteel Staff (with extend hilt): 1.357*.833 = 2.19

With Balanced Hilt against 2 adjacent targets (cleave over pierce - counting cleave as if it were 2 dmg)

Lightsaber: Base: 3.334, surge dmg: 3.385, black die 1.5 = 5.219

Force Pike w/ high impact guard: Base: 3.833, surge dmg: 2.489, black die 1.5: 4.822

So yah,

1. Get a balanced hilt on it.

2. Prioritize cleave over pierce.

Combined with Way of the Sarlacc, this weapon is scary.

This is all against the black die. I haven't done the math against while, but it is going to be much poorer (like all pierce heavy attacks, like Vader).

I mean, why isn't it red + yellow or with automatic Pierce 3?

This is Vader's ability. A Sith Lord who's lightsaber is an extention of his being. At this time, Vader is pretty much the ultimate lightsaber user in the galaxy.

Diala's just an exile. I'm not familiar with the life span of Twileks, but I think it's probably safe to assume that her master survived Order 66, went into hiding, and either discovered a very young Diala shortly after the fall of the Republic, or saved her as one of the younglings, taking her into hiding as well. I can imagine that her training included a lot of Force meditation but very little training with a lightsaber (even in private) to minimize the risk of discovery. So her ability with a lightsaber isn't going to be anywhere near Vader's.

It's gonna start off being a little bit better than using her lead pipe because she's learning a completely new weapon with a weird balance and more danger to herself. As she becomes familar with it (having lopped off several robe sleeves and the very tip of her left lekku once) and begins gaining more experience, she tweaks things, adding to the grip to balance the hilt for her use, learning to use the blade edge with flowing strikes to hit more than one opponent, and after hearing tale of a deep desert creature from Tattooine (that farm boy will not shut up about vaporators, jawas, and wamp rats) she learns how to focus her attacks against all of her foes, striking each and cleaving those standing close by. She's still not a Jedi, but she's much much closer.

Maybe I'm mistaken, but I always thought the red/blue dice for the lightsaber was designed around using the extra accuracy for saber throw. Surprised no one has mentioned the added range benefit in the math.

The blue die does sync with dancing weapon.

You would have a guaranteed 4 ranged (with the bonus blue die).

However, you could also throw a Vibro-ax or Force pike and get higher single target damage but at lower range.

Also, dancing weapon isn't my favorite because you can't attack twice with it. So, when it is beneficial is when you want to attack 2 different targets, 1 close and 1 far. Or if you are really far away and need to use a ranged attack even after moving.

IMO, Way of the Sarlacc is not only more useful in general, it works very well with the very strong cleave 2, 1 damage surge of the lightsaber.

... throw a Vibro-ax ...

I'm okay with this

IMO, Way of the Sarlacc is not only more useful in general, it works very well with the very strong cleave 2, 1 damage surge of the lightsaber.

While I agree with most of the points here, I don't think "Way of the Sarlacc" is very useful for it's cost. An Imperial player who knows what he's doing will just keep his figures 1 space away when Diala gets this. Since most the Imperial figures are ranged, it's not too hard to spread out and attack. For 4xp and 1[strain], Dancing Weapon is a better buy as it will have more use in the long run. I think Snap Kick is a better use of xp. Sure it's not a full attack, but it's less xp and no strain.

IMO, Way of the Sarlacc is not only more useful in general, it works very well with the very strong cleave 2, 1 damage surge of the lightsaber.

While I agree with most of the points here, I don't think "Way of the Sarlacc" is very useful for it's cost. An Imperial player who knows what he's doing will just keep his figures 1 space away when Diala gets this. Since most the Imperial figures are ranged, it's not too hard to spread out and attack. For 4xp and 1[strain], Dancing Weapon is a better buy as it will have more use in the long run. I think Snap Kick is a better use of xp. Sure it's not a full attack, but it's less xp and no strain.

Spreading is not always possible plus lot of imperials got bonuses for staying close to each other. So, forcing imperials to split is indirect bonus for a team.

Our Diala is playing more support role throwing focus around and tanking (2x focus / rest and dancing weapon with focus), and I would say she is doing fine.

I would say with some 3 dice weapon (like BGR or GGR) she might have been a bit OP. Especially considering Focused throw (+BG) or way of Scarlacc (possible 3 attacks with cleave 2).

Also, keep in mind she is quite tanky with rerolled white dice..